Srinagar, Feb 14: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has expressed dismay over “non-inclusion of its recommendations for development of various sectors of economy in a paper that was presented to union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee by chief minister Omar Abdullah.”
 In a statement here today the KCCI accused the authorities of not including many vital sectors of economy including horticulture, handicraft, tourism etc in the paper.
 A delegation of KCCI led by its senior vice president N A Dar accompanied chief minister Omar Abdullah who met the union finance minister on Saturday seeking support for J&K industry.
 The KCCI delegation had a meeting with the Minister of Industries and Commerce S S Salathia and Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department   Anil Goswami.
 “In the meeting, the KCCI expressed strong reservations about the list of proposals formulated by the Industries and Commerce Department. The KCCI pointed out the absence of proposals regarding important sectors of state economy like Handicrafts, Tourism, Agriculture and Horticulture,” it said.
 “Furthermore, suggestions put forward by the KCCI in several papers/memorandums especially suggestions in the document on Economic Revival of Kashmir presented to the Chief Minister like Debt Relief, Revival and Rehabilitation of Sick Units had been ignored in the paper prepared by the State Government,” it said.
 “Regarding the demand for North East type package, it was pointed out to the Minister that in order to have a balanced growth of all the regions in the State, it was of utmost importance that any packages proposed should exclusively focus on regions which have suffered North East type conditions and sufferings,” it said.
 The chamber said S S Salathia assured its delegation that all their suggestions were under active consideration of the government and would be taken up separately with the government of India.
 “The Chief Minister had put in personal efforts in ensuring an appointment with the Minister of Finance Pranab Mukerjee as he was extremely busy with the finalisation of the Budget,” the chamber said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
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